Seat belt buckle



May 4, 1965 S. J. KULWIN sEAT BELT BUCKLE Filed Sept, 4, 1963 1111111111. vllllll`(ll,"-,.

fla-- United States Patent O 3,181,221 SEAT BELT BUCKLE Seymour 3. Kulwin, Chicago, Ill., assignor to .Iedrey- Allan Industries, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 306,478 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-230) This invention relates in general to seat belts, and more particularly to an improved automotive seat belt fastening device, or buckle.

In the use of known seat belt fastening devices, ditliculty has been encountered in buckling the fastening device. This is not only irritating and ti-me consuming to the user, but may produce a situation where the seat belt is not properly fastened. In particular, the base of the buckle -body must have recesses or openings to receive the tips of latch dogs which engage the buckle tongue, and if the recesses extend generally continuously across the buckle base the tip of 'the tongue may be caught in the recess and interfere with proper buckling.

Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a seat belt buckle in which the tongue may be inserted in the buckle without binding so that the seat belt user can engage the buckle quickly and positively.

Another object of the invention is to provide a seat belt buckle of the character described which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, yet which meets all performance standards established by the seat belt industry.

These and other objects of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from a reading of the following speciiication taken in connection with the annexed drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention 4in the latched position;

'FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the fastening means illustrated in FIGURE l and FIGURE 2, showing particularly one of the latching elements;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE 6;

yFIGURE 5 is a View taken generally along line 5 5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view taken generally along line 6 6 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary View similar to FIGURE 6 showing the fastening device in the unlatched condition, but with the buckle tongue partially inserted; and

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the buckle tongue.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawing and will herein be described in detail one specific embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention -will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, the buckle of the present invention is indicated generally `at lll, and is used to secure the ends of seat `belt sections 1l and 12 around the body of a user in the usual way.

Fastening device 10 includes a first latch element, or buckle lbody 13, that is generally U-shaped -in cross section, and which includes a generally planar, rectangular base I4 with upstanding sides `15 and 16 along its longitudinal edges. Base I4 includes a transverse opening I7 that is bounded at one edge by an outwardly struck flange 14h of the rearmost base portion 14a. The free end of seat belt section 11 is looped around a cylindrical rod I3 that extends between sides 1S and 16, and which has end portions of reduced thickness 18a and lb slidably mounted in appropriate aligned slots IS@ and 15a in sides I5 and I6 respectively. It will be readily understood that a pull toward the left as viewed in FIGURE l on seat belt portion Il will cause rod IS to slide rearwardly in slots 15a and 16a and to clamp the seat belt portion lil against the 4base portion Mb. Rod I may be knurled to enhance its gripping ability.

Buckle body It? further includes a combined release lever and cover I9 that is nested between the sides I5 and I6 of body 13. As is best seen in FIGURE 5, lever 19 is generally U-shaped in cross section having a central cover portion 2t) with depending sides 21 and 22 at opposed edges thereof. Side flanges 21 and 22 are provided with enlarged apertured forward end portions as at 21a, and the forward end 23 of central portion 20 is curved therearound and terminates a short distance from base I4, as is best seen in FIGURE 6 and FIGURE 7. A pivot pin 24 impales the apertured sides 21 and 22, as well as suitable aligned apertures provided in sides l5 and 16, and lever I9 is mounted for pivotal lmovement on the pin with its flanges 2l and '22 between the sides I5 and I6 of the body 13. The terminal edge of the curved section 23 of release element 19, in combination with the base 1li and sides I5 and I6 of latch member I3 defines an open ended channel for slidable reception of a second latch element, or tongue 35, to be hereafter described.

A detent, or latch dog 25 is also pivoted on the pin 24 and nested between the anges 2l and 22 of lever I9, and includes a transversely extending generally planar central portion 26 with apertured lugs 27 and 2S at its opposite ends that are impaled by pvot pin 24, so the dog may pivot independently of the lever. Each of lugs 27 and 28 includes rst abutment means in the form of a shoulder 2 that is engageable with the end of curved portion 23, and second abutment means in the form of an ear 3i) that is adapted to be positioned in the aforedescribed channel. A coil spring 3l loosely embraces pivot pin 24, with one end 31a bent outwardly from the main spring body and bearing on latch dog section 26, and with the other spring end SIb engaged in a longitudinal slot 24a in pivot pin 24. Thus spring 3l urges latch dog 25 into the position illustrated in FIGURE 6, and upon pivotal movement of lever 19, the edge of curved lever section 23 will engage abutment means 29 on the latch dog 25 to pivot the dog into the position shown in FIG- URE 7. A retaining washer `32 in an appropriate groove in pivot pin 24 locks the pin in the body 13.

The latch tongue 35 of the .buckle is thin and flat, and is provided with a transverse slot 36 which receives the looped end of scat belt portion l2; and the tongue includes a plate 37 of reduced width that defines transverse shoulders 38 and 39 which are adapted to abut against sides 15 and I6 of buckle body 13 when the tongue is in the buckle body i3. The tongue plate 37 is adapted to be slidably inserted into the channel between the buckle base 14 and the end of the curved portion -23 of lever 19. As tongue plate 37 is inserted in the channel its leading edge contacts the ears 3i), and pivots latch dog 25 relative to both buckle body I3 and lever 19. As is best seen in FIGURE 8, aligned notches 40 and 4l are formed in the longitudinal sides of tongue plate 37, and as the tongue plate is inserted into the aforedescribed channel the ears 30 snap into the notches 4t) and 4I under the urging of Ispring 31. The parts are then in the position of FIGURE 6, with the latch dog shoulders 29 abutting the end of the curved portion 23 of lever I9, and with the rearward ends of lever flanges 21 and 22 forced against the upright iiange `tri-b of the base I4. The elements are thus securely held in position, and to open the buckle the lever I9 is merely pivoted to the position e3 of FIGURE 7, elevating the latch ears 31) and freeing the tongue plate 37 for withdrawal from the buckle body 13.

As best seen in FGURE 5 and FIGURE 6, base 14 of buckle body 13 has recesses 45 to accommodate the ends of ears when they are engaged with the notches and 41 of the latch tongue as seen in FIGURE 6; and an intermediate recess a helps to rigidify the base 14. lt will be readily appreciated that by providing recesses 45 and 45a rather than an opening through the base, the structural strength of the base is significantly increased. The recesses 4S and 45o are separated by llat portions 46 that are coplanar with the surface of base 14, and atord guide surfaces which then cause the tongue plate 37 to slide smoothly over the base 14 Without catching in the recesses 45 as it would do if there were a single continuous recess.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a sturdy yet economical seat belt buckle has been provided which is extremely simple to latch and unlatch. Thus each of the objects of the invention have been fully achieved.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a seat belt buckle having a rigid latch body with a planar base, said planar base having a surface adapted to engage the users body, a planar rigid latch tongue adapted to be slidably inserted along said base and having openings, and detent means pivotally mounted on said latch body for movement between an unlatched position out of engagement with said openings and a latched position received Within said openings to releasably latch said tongue `in said body, the improvement comprising: a plurality of shallow arcuate recessed grooves spaced transversely across said base, said grooves being dened by projections extending from said surface, the end of said detent means each being loosely received in one of said grooves when the detent means are in latched position, and areas coplanar with the base and transversely aligned with said recessed groovesy to provide a guide surface on which said tongue may slide along said base without catching in said recess means.

2. A fastening device for releasably securing the ends of a seat belt, comprising: a rs-t sheet metal latch element having a generally planar base with upstanding sides at opposed edges thereof, said base having a surface adapted to engage the users body; means on said latch element for holding one seat belt end; a release member mounted between said sides and having a transverse Bange extending toward said base and spaced therefrom; said latch element base and sides, and said release member flange together deiining an open ended channel; a latch dog mounted between said sides and having rst abutment .means normally positioned adjacent said ange and `second abutment means normally extending into said channel; a pivot pin extending between said sides and impaling said release member and said latch dog to mount said release member and said latch dog for pivotal movement relative to said first latch element; spring means biasing said latch dog first abutment means into engagement with said flange and said second abutment means into said channel; a second sheet metal latch element having means for holding the other seat belt end, said second latch element having a tongue portion adapted to be slidably inserted in said channel to engage said latch dog second abutment means and pivot said latch dog relative to said lirst latch element and said release member, said second latch element having catch means adapted to receive said second abutment means after the leading edge of said tongue portion is moved past said second abutment means; a plurality of shallow arcuate grooves spaced transversely across `said base, said grooves being defined by projections extending from said surface, each groove loosely receiving one of said latch dog second abutment means under the urging of said spring means; and attened areas transversely aligned with said recessed grooves whereby said tongue portion may be slidably inserted along said rst latch element base without binding.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,836,678 12/31 Morse 24-180 1,856,775 5/32 Meehan 24-180 2,803,864 8/57 Bishaf 24-2301 2,896,284 7/59 Bishaf ZZP- 230.1 2,920,367 l/ Fazenbaker 24-2301 3,078,538 2/63 Brown 24--230.1 3,104,440 9/63 Davis 24-230.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 660,973 7/29 France.

DONLEY I. STOCKNG, Primary Examiner.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Examiner.I 

1. IN A SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAVING A RIGID LATCH BODY WITH A PLANAR BASE, SAID PLANAR BASE HAVING A SURFACE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE USER''S BODY, A PLANAR RIGID LATCH TONGUE ADAPTED TO BE SLIDABLY INSERTED ALONG SAID BASE AND HAVING OPENINGS, AND DETENT MEANS BETWEEN AN UNLATCHED POSITION OUT OF BODY FOR ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN AN UNLATCHED POSITION OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID OPENINGS AND A LATCHED POSITION RECEIVED WITHIN SAID OPENINGS TO RELEASABLY LATCH SAID TONGUE IN SAID BODY, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF SHALLOW ARCUATE RECESSED GROOVES SPACED TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID BASE, SAID GROOVES BEING DEFINED BY PROJECTIONS EXTENDING FROM SAID SURFACE, THE END OF SAID DETENT MEANS EACH BEING LOOSELY RECEIVED IN ONE OF SAID GROOVES WHEN THE DETENT MEANS ARE IN LATCHED POSITION, AND AREAS COPLANAR WITH THE BASE AND TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED WITH SAID RECESSED GROOVES TO PROVIDE A GUIDE SURFACE ON WHICH SAID TONGUE MAY SLIDE ALONG SAID BASE WITHOUT CATCHING IN SAID RECESS MEANS. 